Lori Blair
Santa Fe
Summary
Values-driven executive leader specializing in strategic planning and governance for nonprofits. Achieved 80% client satisfaction and an 80% increase in sales over three years while integrating an equity-centered approach to dismantle barriers and expand opportunities for social impact and justice.
Overview
39
39
years of professional experience
Work History
Vice President, Strategy & Leadership
Fairmount Ventures
01.2022 - Current
- Partnered with nonprofit and public sector clients to design compelling visions and co-create actionable goals, strategies, and organizational structures.
- Lead strategy and leadership service lines, including strategic planning, business models, governance, board development, culture change, change management, and executive search.
- Served on the firm’s leadership team, leading strategic and annual planning and redefining organizational values and behaviors.
- Increased staff support for organizational values by 25% over two years, including a 65% increase in support for the inclusion value.
- Defined and embedded an equity-centered approach to strategic planning and executive search.
- Led the first-ever strategic plan for a 75-year-old private foundation following significant staff and board transitions, resulting in a justice-focused framework grounded in trust-based philanthropy, grantmaking, and advocacy.
- Designed a governance structure for a regional collective-impact workforce development initiative spanning Philadelphia and surrounding counties.
- Guided rapidly growing nonprofit in evolving staff culture and refining business model, enhancing alignment with mission and community needs.
- Created and facilitated board training programs to strengthen governance effectiveness and strategic accountability.
Vice President, Impact & Strategy
Soroptimist / LiveYourDream.org
01.2020 - 01.2022
- Collaborated with a global board of directors and executive leadership team to engage 50,000 members and supporters across 20 countries and territories, advancing educational access and economic empowerment for women and girls.
- Directed long-range and annual strategic planning, driving growth through robust data collection, analysis, and evaluation.
- Guided board decision-making and recommended policy development, ensuring strong governance and alignment with organizational goals.
- Established crisis guidelines and scenario plans, facilitating effective organizational response during COVID-19.
- Redesigned the global volunteer fundraising structure to ensure culturally relevant and equitable access to resources.
- Recruited, coached, and inspired diverse staff and volunteers to align around shared goals and exceed expectations.
- Built momentum for strategic change through stakeholder engagement, consistent communication, and compelling presentations.
- Led a post-COVID organizational restructure supported by clear guiding principles; after one year, 86% of staff rated the effort as successful and 100% reported it helped achieve top organizational priorities.
- Led a global collective-impact initiative that produced: 57% increase in women served, 74% increase in funds distributed through signature programs, 63% increase in contributions.
- Designed, managed, evaluated, and continuously improved global programs with an annual budget of $2 million.
- Introduced data-driven, outcomes-based evaluation to strengthen decision-making, resource allocation, and impact storytelling.
- Designed and launched a flagship program serving 75,000 girls across 14 countries in its first five years, with 90% of participants reporting increased confidence in future success.
- Created portfolio evaluation tool that eliminated ineffective programs, enabling reinvestment in high-impact initiatives.
- Redesigned global grantmaking processes, achieving a 90% project success rate.
- Developed comprehensive, diversified fundraising strategies spanning individual giving, major gifts, planned giving, and corporate support.
- Designed and directed a $15 million capacity-building campaign.
- Exceeded annual contributions goals by 147%.
Senior Consultant
Tecker International
11.2011 - 08.2018
- Led client engagement initiatives to enhance service delivery and client satisfaction.
- Applied quantitative and qualitative research, facilitated group dialogue, and designed high-impact strategies and sustainable solutions.
- Facilitated workshops aligning client goals with organizational strategies, resulting in actionable solutions.
- Developed strategic recommendations for process improvements, driving project efficiencies and client satisfaction.
- Partnered with association and nonprofit clients to solve complex organizational challenges, enhancing operational effectiveness.
Various Positions
01.1987 - 01.1999
- Established expertise in operations, customer service, and management through roles in independent and university bookstores across Pennsylvania, New Mexico, and California.
- Executed roles as clerk, cashier, returns manager, book buyer, assistant manager, and manager at Chester County Book & Music Company, East Stroudsburg University Bookstore, Bookworks, University of New Mexico Medical/Legal Bookstore, and Copperfield’s.
- Completed day-to-day duties accurately and efficiently.
- Contributed innovative ideas and solutions to enhance team performance and outcomes.
- Worked successfully with diverse group of coworkers to accomplish goals and address issues related to our products and services.
Education
M.A. - Political Science
The University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, NMB.A. - Political Science
West Chester University
West Chester, PACertificate - Nonprofit Management
The Nonprofit Center at La Salle University
Philadelphia, PASkills
- Strategic Planning
- Governance & Board Development
- Leadership & Team Development
- Change Management
- Succession planning
- Program evaluation
- Organizational operations
- Grant implementation
- Philanthropic fundraising
- Resource management
- Culture & Values
- Equity and inclusion
Values
- Curiosity, I believe there is never a single right answer or path forward. I lead with humility, ask meaningful questions, listen deeply, and make space for multiple perspectives to help teams articulate and pursue shared goals.
- Connection, The world’s most complex challenges are solved through community. I build authentic partnerships grounded in honesty, transparency, vulnerability, and follow-through.
- Courage, Transforming systems requires bravery and persistence. I am committed to pursuing what is right—even when it is difficult, risky, or uncertain—while centering integrity, justice, and equity.
Timeline
Vice President, Strategy & Leadership
Fairmount Ventures
01.2022 - Current
Vice President, Impact & Strategy
Soroptimist / LiveYourDream.org
01.2020 - 01.2022
Senior Consultant
Tecker International
11.2011 - 08.2018
Various Positions
01.1987 - 01.1999
M.A. - Political Science
The University of New Mexico
B.A. - Political Science
West Chester University
Certificate - Nonprofit Management
The Nonprofit Center at La Salle University